---
title: "Mainframe: How to Read a Tape File"
description: "Tape files in mainframe are not readable. So this sample JCL you can use to copy to DASD file and you can read."
url: https://srinimf.com/2014/10/18/browse-tape-file-in-mainframe/
date: 2014-10-18
modified: 2026-10-10
author: "Srini"
image: https://i0.wp.com/srinimf.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/pexels-photo-3791185.jpeg?fit=1880%2C1253&ssl=1
categories: ["Categories", "JCL"]
tags: ["JCL tips and Tricks", "tape files"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Mainframe: How to Read a Tape File

This post shares sample JCL you need to read or browse the tape files in mainframe. You cannot browse tape files directly. So first you need [to copy](https://srinimf.com/2015/08/12/jcl-icetool-to-copy-a-data-set-to-multiple-data-sets/) tape file to sequential file using IEBGENER utility, then you can read or browse the tape files.

## Sample JCL.

//STEP01   EXEC PGM=IEBGENER
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=A
//SYSUT1   DD DSN=J.**TAPE**.UST.A,
//            DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2   DD DSN=PQHL.DASD.UST.A,
//          DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
//    UNIT=TEST80,
// SPACE=(CYL(1000,1000),RLSE),
// DCB=*.SYSUT1
//SYSIN    DD DUMMY
//*

Related Posts

- [IEBGENER: Copy Tape to DASD, Delete a Dataset](https://srinimf.com/2010/03/04/jcl-question/)DateMarch 4, 2010
- [How to Send Pdf to email id Using Batch JCL](https://srinimf.com/2015/09/17/mainframe-sending-pdf-to-a-email-id-using-batch-jcl/)DateSeptember 17, 2015
- [Mainframe: Tricky JCL Question – Answer](https://srinimf.com/2010/03/12/answer-jcl-question/)DateMarch 12, 2010

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